Former nurse Sandra Holliday launched her business Choose Occupational Health in 2008 and has been at the helm ever since. The Carlisle-based company currently supports more than 550 organisations across the county

She says: "Every day begins with my husband bringing me a cup of tea, and I sit and listen to Classic FM too as a relaxed and easy way to wake up. Then I spend a little bit of time with the family while we’re all getting ready to go to work. 

As I drive to work, I will listen to an audiobook or a podcast that is about personal development or some aspect of business. Every now and again, I hear a real nugget and I think ‘oh, that’s clever’.

Before I finish work at night, I prepare and think about what I need to focus on when I come in the next morning, so when I get there, I’ve already got everything ready and I know what my priorities are. 

On my way home, I listen to The Archers. It’s my guilty pleasure and a way of relaxing and transitioning out of work and into the evening.

I was born in Penrith and lived in Lazonby, but we moved to Carlisle when I was four. My parents always planned to move back but never did. I had a lot of family who lived in the country, in the farming community so I had a good mix of city and country experience. Now I live between Dalston and Ivegill which is lovely. 

My biggest influence when I was growing up was my mum. She was a role model with a really strong work ethic. She worked as a PA to the chief exec of the health board at the time and that’s what inspired me to become a nurse. She and my dad also taught me to never give up – just to keep going. 

As a nurse, I was working in primary care development supporting learners, specialists, practitioner learners and mentorship. I was headhunted by a consortium of GPs to be their training manager and then went on to establish an occupational health business.

When I first set up the business, I lacked confidence and had a bit of imposter syndrome. My brother, who was a partner at Deloitte, said: ‘Sandra, people buy people, so just be yourself and do what feels right and the rest will come.’

He was right, and I recognise that I’m a problem solver so I find there’s always a solution if you just keep going and work out a different way to go at it. 

Since then, there have been quite a few moments that have made me proud, but there are two that stick out. 

The first was when we entered, and won, the Family Business Awards in the professional services category and we were also nominated for the judges’ award. I felt so proud of my team – I didn’t do it on my own. 

The other was on our Christmas night out and all the team were up dancing and this lovely team felt like a family. I’m always proud to celebrate my work family’s success like when one of the clinicians graduated with her degree. 

If I had to define the key to success, I’d say it’s about constantly growing and expanding. If something doesn’t go well or doesn’t go the way we’d like, then it’s a gift, an opportunity to grow and learn. That and not being afraid of asking for help or finding the right people to talk things out with. I have a business consultant who has been really helpful – it’s okay to bring in people who have the expertise you need. 

I’ve found that the biggest business challenge has been growing – managing to put in place the infrastructure to manage the growth and taking the risk. It’s a constant juggle of capacity versus demand. 

Personally, being present for my three children while also being present for my business and my team has been a challenge. When I started the business my youngest was 18 months old and my eldest was nine. When you have your own business, you don’t just go to work and come home, it’s a way of life.

During Covid, my dad who had been diagnosed with dementia, went into a home. Then he caught covid and died at the beginning of the February. The grief was very difficult. At the same time, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a challenge because I wanted to make the team feel safe and support them and put in the infrastructure so I could step out and heal.

That’s what drove the decision I made in March to sell my shares in the business to a larger occupation health provider. I still run things day-to-day, it’s my team and my organisational plan, but with the infrastructure, support and guidance from a larger group.

Choose OH is different because we care. I care about people and want to do the best I can for them and it’s the same for the team. We’ll go that extra mile for clients. And we all live in Cumbria and love it so it’s about doing the best we can for people in Cumbria.